Junior Kool began grinding welds in 1957 as one of Vermeer Corporate’s early employees. In 1962, he started selling Vermeer equipment and building personal relationships along the way. Using his hands-on experience, Junior helped customers match the right equipment to the task at hand. Then he did whatever it took to keep those customers happy, even when it meant long hours and lengthy trips to customer jobsites.
Junior and his wife Beverly opened the first Vermeer Midwest location in Eureka, Illinois in 1971. They quickly became known for their personal approach to customer service and their interest in seeing their customers succeed.
As their customer base expanded, so did their number of locations. Driven by customer requests and their dedication to personal customer care, Junior and Beverly grew their business to twelve locations across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri that make up Vermeer Midwest today. With well over 125 years of combined experience, the company’s management team carries Junior’s vision forward while also integrating technology designed to enhance the customer experience.
As a larger, multi-state operation, Vermeer Midwest brings additional value to its customers. All thirteen branches are linked together, creating a regional network of parts, equipment and technical service know-how. And a fleet of over 30 mobile service vehicles gives customers quick access to experienced technicians, parts and on-site trouble-shooting.
The business looks a lot different today than it did in 1971. But one thing hasn’t changed: a genuine commitment to personal customer care.
Go the extra mile. Work the extra hours. Get your boots dirty on the jobsite. Do whatever it takes to take care of the customer. At Vermeer Midwest, this isn’t a banner on the wall or some statement in a business plan. It’s simply how business is done.
